251105 - The RSJ’s on the ground in front of the house are to support the main roof. Both are 12m long. There is a big one a foot high which goes right at the top and a not so big one 6” high which goes at the bottom of the back plane of the main roof - just above the flat roof level. All the steel beams have a fillet of would fixed to them. The huge nails the SIP’s are attached with will be nailed into these fillets.

The oak beams under the make-shift gantry are for the main roof support structure and consist of:- a principle rafter 8” x 6” which will run from main ridge beam down to the top of the wall plate to the right of the jettied dormer cheek, two purlins 8” x 8” running from the principle rafter to the north wall, a ridge beam running from the apex of the jettied dormer gable back to the main ridge beam and another purlin for the left bay. There is only one on this side (South) as there will be a ceiling just above it so the other purlin higher will not be seen and up is a RSJ which is already in placed. It can be seen in the photo above just behind the left dormer apex.

The photo below shows one of the north purlin tenons cut and the beam planed ready for installation (due for the 8th December).

251105 - One of the purlin tenons finished.

251105 - The purlins ready for a test fit.

251105 - The birds-mouth joint cut on the bottom of the principle rafter.

08/12/05 - In go those beams - all to support the main roof.  Nearly a tonne of steel and over a tonne of oak.  All went quite well and thanks go to Peakie, John and Ewan.

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